Charlotte, NC— Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department invites anyone interested in the great outdoors to come to the "Great Outdoors Festival" on Saturday, October 24, 2009, 11am–5pm, at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, 5226 Sample Road in Huntersville. The festival is for both youngsters and adults. Admission is FREE!

This is the second year of the Great Outdoors Festival, which provides an opportunity to spend the day exploring the nature preserve's more than 13-hundred acres of varied terrain, deep woods, meadows and wildlife along the shores of beautiful Mountain Island Lake.

Activities include:

Canoeing

Kayaking

Fishing (requires NC state license for age 16 and older.)

Crafts

GPS walks

Old fashioned field games and more.

The nature preserve provides all needed equipment!

The festival includes displays of wood carvings, bee keepers and the US National White Water Center. Kids can take pony rides for a dollar and color pumpkins with quick drying markers to make a souvenir to take home. Vendors display the latest in outdoor gear and equipment. Concessioners offer food and drink for sale.